Montreal in the hot months feels like the reason the sun exists – the city shines like a mirage full or music festivals, lively parks and revelers everywhere you turn. You don’t have to ask us twice to stay out of doors, and with these great activities, even the kids will agree. No TV show in the world compares to the fun to be had in the great outdoors…

Montreal is truly beautiful during the winter holiday season – lights adorn the historical buildings and churches of Old Montreal, Christmas trees sparkle in the streets and windows – yet somehow beauty doesn’t always keep kids happy… Here are some ideas for holiday season family fun in Montreal.

Spring in Montreal is a great time to enjoy the little things in life- and by little, we mean tiny, as in the tiny bugs and butterflies that flutter around the Insectarium and Botanical Gardens around now…

Keeping kids active and happy is what March Break is all about in Montreal, March 3–11, 2012. Pry kids away from the TV and video games for at least a few hours with a day of high-tech fun at the Montreal Science Centre, art workshops at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, circus tricks at the TOHU circus centre, and natural wonders at the Biodôme and Botanical Gardens. And make the most of the end of winter with outdoor activities at Parc Jean-Drapeau…

Participating in winter sports is the most fun anyone can have wearing many, many layers of clothing. From skating to cross-country skiing to new winter trends like kicksledding, winter revellers should look no further for the best of winter fun…

Winter can be fun for the whole family. In Montreal anyway, as Montrealers are very good at making winter seem like the best season of the year. They certainly don’t let a blanket of snow and subzero temperatures keep them from frolicking around Parc Jean-Drapeau for the Fête des Neiges…

Until March 31, Parc Jean Drapeau will be home to Montreal’s most wonderfully wintery attraction, the Snow Village. In fact, the Snow Village is an hommage to the city itself, boasting icy reproductions of Montreal’s building and monuments, not to mention a hotel, restaurant, bar, convention centre, chapel and, fittingly, a whole bunch of igloos. An obvious must-see for locals and tourists alike. To make reservations, visit the Snow Village website or call (514) 788-2181.

Montreal has many secrets – rendez-vous locations, after-hours parties – but let me tell you a secret about winter in Montreal: it’s really not that bad. Oh, there was a time when winter in Montreal meant a certain amount of suffering, but these days, well, we have the technology to not only stay warm but to stay highly entertained. January alone features weekends of outdoor dance parties, the opening of an ice hotel (and bar), family fun in the snow, new contemporary art, wild theatre, dance and live music to warm the soul…

The holiday season is special everywhere but, though we’re a bit biased here at the Montreal Buzz, we’re pretty sure it doesn’t get much more special than this. From skating on the The Quays Skating Rink to the wonderful Christmas village found at the Old Montreal Extravaganza Festival, from Mile End’s Noël dans le Parc to shopping on St-Denis, McGill & Sainte-Catherine, and finally the wonderful night sky artistry of TELUS Fire On Ice, if this video doesn’t put you in the festive spirit then you’re probably a grinch. But you’re not, so enjoy.